The result and the performance were not entirely unexpected. First go out as a team in a competitive game. Improvements must and will come.
British and Irish Lions can't use jetlag excuse again - Ian Jones By Chris Jones BBC Radio 5 live rugby reporter in New Zealand please log in to view this image Ian Jones made 79 Test appearances for the All Blacks The British and Irish Lions can only use the jetlag excuse once, according to All Blacks great Ian Jones. The Lions laboured to a 13-7 win against the Provincial Barbarians on Saturday, three days after arriving in New Zealand. Head coach Warren Gatland says the players were still struggling to adjust to the time difference. "It's an easy cop out to say these guys are jetlagged," Jones told the BBC Rugby Union Weekly podcast. "If you go down the line of [saying it's] a scratch side, with jetlag, you can use that excuse only once on a tour, ever. You cannot go back on that. "They have known a long time out they were going to play this game, so they had to go through their professional routines to get them into sync." The Lions already face a decisive week on the tour, with matches against the Blues on Wednesday and the in-form Crusaders on Saturday. The schedule has been labelled "suicidal" by former New Zealand coach Graham Henry, but Jones says the itinerary is a "non-issue." "Let's not worry about the brutality of this tour, because they have 41 players," added Jones, who played in 79 Tests for New Zealand between 1990 and 1999. "So that's a non-issue. Don't even worry about how tough this tour is. "With 15 players you can call it brutal, but they have 41 players remember, and a huge medical staff, so it shouldn't be raised." please log in to view this image Jones played in all three of the Tests when the All Blacks beat the British and Irish Lions 2-1 in the 1993 series Jones played alongside Lions boss Gatland throughout the 1990s, and was coached by his fellow Kiwi when a player at Wasps at the turn of the century. "I back Warren Gatland wholeheartedly," Jones added. "A) because I've been coached by the guy, B) because I've played alongside the guy and know what he means, and C) because he can get things right off the field. "When you get things right off the field, it just translates to things on the field." The Lions have embarked on a charm offensive with the New Zealand public so far on this trip, and on Sunday visited the Waitangi Treaty Grounds for an official Maori welcome, or pÅwhiri. Despite fears the Lions are putting too much stall in off the field commitments, Jones feels embracing the Kiwi culture will be crucial to success. "What he's doing off the field in terms of getting his players out there to meet New Zealanders, understand what New Zealand rugby is all about, learning the culture; it's 100% important," Jones continued. "Once the Lions players get into the mind of Gats, or get into the minds of the New Zealand public and understand what rugby means to us - playing a home - I think that's actually a really important thing." please log in to view this image The British and Irish Lions players and officials received an official Maori welcome in Waitangi on Sunday
BBC saying that Dan Coles a doubt for the All Blacks for the tests. Big player for NZ, but sure they have back up.
22-16 to the Blues, so no unbeaten tour. This was the weakest league opponents we face on tour, Saturday it's the strongest so we are already looking down the barrel...
Blues were great to watch and open rugby was the winner. Lions need to look hard at their penalty count
Another northern hemisphere team with discipline all over the place. The Blues are good though and anyone coached by Tana Umaga will be up for a Lions match.
Really? Thought they had 8 All Blacks in their team. If they are the worst, we're ****ed. As predicted.
Lions tour: Lions name strong team to tackle Crusaders on Saturday night please log in to view this image Last updated 19:25, June 8 2017 31 please log in to view this image HANNAH PETERS/GETTY IMAGES British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland. British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has stuck to his plan. After indicating pre-tour he wanted to give everyone in his 41-man squad a start during the first three games of the tour, he's kept his word. Wing George North, midfielder Jonathan Davies, halfback Conor Murray and flanker Sean O'Brien will make their first appearances of the tour against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday night. Three-time tourist Alun Wyn Jones will captain the Lions at AMI Stadium, a match the visitors dearly need to win to start building some momentum ahead of the three-test series. Last updated 19:25, June 8 2017 * Seven All Blacks to face Lions * Barrett trio in All Blacks * NZ Maori squad to face Lions named * Rieko Ioane lights up Lions * Lions 'will learn from loss' "The aim was always to start everyone in the first three matches and this selection ensures that we achieve this," Gatland said. please log in to view this image HANNAH PETERS/GETTY IMAGES Owen Farrell will start at first-five eighth against the Crusaders on Saturday night. "This is an experienced team with nine of the starting 15 players having featured in 2013." Gatland called the loss to the Blues "disappointing", and said his team would need to improve their discipline against the Crusaders. "We are looking forward to the clash against the Crusaders and we expect a tough game against the most successful team in Super Rugby history." please log in to view this image Not one player who started the loss against the Blues has kept his spot in the run-on side, but a bunch, including outstanding flanker Maro Itoje, are on the bench. Ad Feedback Earlier, Crusaders coach Scott Robertson named a near full-strength side for Saturday's clash. Unbeaten in Super Rugby this season, the Crusaders will run out with largely the same starting XV which helped them edge the Highlanders at the same venue last weekend. Robertson has rotated halfback Bryn Hall into the starting side for Mitchell Drummond, while David Havili has shifted from fullback into the midfield for the injured Ryan Crotty. Israel Dagg, who on Thursday was named in the All Blacks for the three-test series against the British and Irish Lions, will start at fullback. AT A GLANCE Lions: Stuart Hogg, George North, Jonathan Davies, Ben Te'o, Liam Williams, Owen Farrell, Conor Murray, Taulupe Faletau, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony, George Kruis, Alun Wyn Jones (c), Tadhg Furlong, Jamie George, Mako Vunipola. Reserves: Ken Owens, Jack McGrath, Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, CJ Stander, Rhys Webb, Johnny Sexton, Anthony Watson. Crusaders: Israel Dagg, Seta Tamanivalu, Jack Goodhue, David Havili, George Bridge, Richie Mo'unga, Bryn Hall, Jordan Taufua, Matt Todd, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Sam Whitelock (c), Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Reserves: Ben Funnell, Wyatt Crockett, Michael Alaalatoa, Quinten Strange, Jed Brown, Mitchell Drummond, Mitchell Hunt, Tim Bateman
Lions v Crusaders, this should be the best non-test match of the tour, if the Haka is anything to go by, they're up for it...
Great game. Unfortunately I'm going to have to leave it too, as I'm taking my lad to Southampton Uni for a pre-September visit.
